Question 4:- Genetically modified crops:- In 2003 nearly 70 million hectares globally were planted in genetically modified crops. Of these, 73% were plants such as soybean, corn and cotton, which were modified to be herbicide tolerant and 18% were plants such as maize and cotton, which were modified to be insect resistant. A further 8% were crops with both herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. The remaining 1% were modified in other ways. (Annual Global Review of Commercialised Transgenic (GM) Crops. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. http://www.isaaa.org/kc/CBTNews/press_release/briefs30/es_b30.pdf) Compare and contrast the possible outcomes of releasing into the environment, plants genetically modified for herbicide tolerance with those of plants genetically modified for insect resistance. Your answer should include both the ecological and evolutionary outcomes of such releases, and evaluate the likelihood of these outcomes occurring.
In 2003 nearly 70 million hectares globally were planted in genetically modified crops. Of these, 73% were plants such as soybean, corn and cotton, which were modified to be herbicide tolerant and 18% were plants such as maize and cotton, which were modified to be insect resistant. A further 8% were crops with both herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. The remaining 1% were modified in other ways. (Annual Global Review of Commercialised Transgenic (GM) Crops. International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. http://www.isaaa.org/kc/CBTNews/press_release/briefs30/es_b30.pdf)
Compare and contrast the possible outcomes of releasing into the environment, plants genetically modified for herbicide tolerance with those of plants genetically modified for insect resistance. Your answer should include both the ecological and evolutionary outcomes of such releases, and evaluate the likelihood of these outcomes occurring.